Social Stratification

Hot Button Question:Is homelessness a problem that should concern the American public? If so, what should be done to remedy the issue of homelessness?

• Yes, homelessness should be a concern because people have a need and for most of them it isn’t their fault. Even if it is their fault, we should try to help. A remedy would be for everyone to donate food, or time to build shelters or talk to these people.

• Yes. There should be a bigger effort to create homeless shelters where people can be educated and helped to find a job.

Student Responses…YES!

Student Responses…YES!

• There is homelessness all over America, it just might not be seen in places that aren’t big cities. I think it should concern people. I don’t believe that people shouldn’t have a home. More people should be willing to open up homeless shelters and feed hungry and homeless people.

Student Responses…UMM…

• Homelessness is a problem, but I think we should look at it on a person level. I believe we should ask the questions: Are they truly trying hard to get a job? Are they drug-free?

• Homelessness is a problem that should be sympathized by the American public, but not one that should concern them because all societies have homeless people. We should just continue trying to create jobs and collecting food for charities.

Student Responses…NO!• No, homelessness is not an

American problem, it is the homeless person’s problem.

• Homelessness is not a concern America should be worried about because it’s an individual’s problem.

• No. Most of the time it’s their fault.

Part ONE: The Basics

• DEFINITION: the ranking of individuals based on the unequal distribution of power, prestige & property

• Access to scarce resources & social rewards

• Resources & Rewards:• Education, stable job and

bank loan

Social Stratification

Social Stratification

• In most cases, power, prestige & property occur together; however, this is not always true

• EXAMPLES?

• Property:• Net worth and/or wealth• Objective measurement • Power:• Capacity to influence people

& events in order to obtain wealth & prestige

• Objective measurement

Social Stratification

• Prestige:• An individual’s status

among his peers and in society

• Subjective measurement

Social Stratification

Social Stratification• Which careers do you think are most

prestigious? • Least prestigious?

Socioeconomic Status• DEFINITION: a rating that

determines an individual’s relative position within the system of stratification

• Three Factors:• Education• Occupation• Income

Part TWO: Systems of Stratification

Caste System• Position based on ascribed

status• Fixed, closed boundaries• Not much potential for social

mobility• Endogamy; exogamy not

permitted• Status consistency

• Position based on achieved status

• Open boundaries• Greater potential for social

mobility• Endogamy not required;

exogamy allowed• Less status consistency

Class System

Social Class• DEFINITION: a group

of people who share similar levels of wealth, influence and status (SES)

• Sociologists use THREE methods to determine one’s social class

Social Class• Objective Method: analyzes

“hard” facts

• Subjective Method: asks people what they think of themselves

• Reputational Method: asks what people think of others

Part THREE: Social Stratification in the US

Hot Button Question:Why are wealthy people wealthy?

Why are poor people poor?

• They work hard to earn a living. They save their money wisely in order to remain wealthy.

• They worked harder or smarter than everyone else.

• They are smart, work hard, and work in fields that are their strengths.

• They went the extra mile to succeed and have the best education to get the best paying job.

Student Responses…Wealthy people are wealthy because…

• They have money.• They either inherited the money or

they know how the world works.• They can afford excess.• They either have an amazing job,

or got money passed down.• Often wealthy people are wealthy

because they are born into a family who has collected wealth for many years.

Student Responses…Wealthy people are wealthy because…

• They are lazy and don’t work as hard as wealthy people.

• They are lazy and don’t do enough for themselves and probably do drugs.

• Poor people don’t know how to invest and save their money. Also, they don’t take advantage of the education given to them.

• They don’t want to try as hard as those who are wealthier.

• They want to work for someone instead of being an entrepreneur.

• They are unwilling to work or have bad luck.

Student Responses…Poor people are poor because…

• They have lower income jobs.• They either lost a job, grew up in a

poor environment, don’t have an education, or couldn’t afford an education, or are just lazy and live off the government.

• They were either born into a poor family and had less opportunities or did not work hard.

• The poor are poor because of their pre-existing situation, economic tragedies that happened in their life, and their low access to higher paying jobs.

• Poor people may not have the same opportunities as the wealthy.

Student Responses…Poor people are poor because…

• Some people are wealthy because they worked hard to get a good job. Some people are poor because they haven’t worked for money. HOWEVER, more often people are born into a social class that gives them either advantages or disadvantages in society.

And Finally…

Lower Class• 15–20% of population• Less than $23,000/year

Lower Class• Characteristics:• Poverty, homelessness,

unemployment• (Absolute poverty v. relative

poverty)• Most do not have high school

diplomas• Lack of adequate housing,

food, clothing, safety, medical care, etc.

Working Class• 30–40% of population• Median: males ($40,000) &

females ($26,000)

• Minimally educated, though generally have high school diplomas

• Manual labor

Working Class

• Working poor:• Unskilled workers• Dishwashers, cashiers,

maids, servers, etc.

• Minimum wage; underpaid• No opportunity for career

advancement; “dead-end job”

• Blue Collar:• Skilled workers;

trade• Carpenters, plumbers,

electricians, truck drivers, police officers, etc.

• Better wages than the working poor

Working Class

Middle Class, “Sandwich”

• 40–50% of population• Median: males ($70,000) &

females ($50,000)• Lower Middle:• Less education (B.A.) with

lower incomes• Upper Middle:• Highly educated (M.A, PhD)

with higher incomes

Upper Class• 1–3% of population• About 5% make $150,000+• About 1% make $250, 000+• 25% of total wealth

Upper Class• Lower-Upper:• “New” money• Made from investments,

business ventures, etc.

Upper Class• Upper-Upper:• “Old” money• Aristocratic,

high-society, inheritance

Generally have an M.A. or higher

Manual, though skilled labor

Generally have a B.A.

May or may not have a high school education

Characterized by “new” money

Part FOUR: Theory

Structural-Functionalism

vs.Conflict Theory

Stratification: Theory

Stratification: Theory• Functionalism:• Social

stratification is a necessary component of society; the linkage of greater rewards to more important social positions benefits society as a whole; USEFUL & INEVITABLE

• Conflict:• Social

stratification is the result of social conflict; differences in social rewards serve the interests of some while harming the interests of others; ONLY USEFUL TO SOME PEOPLE

Stratification: Theory• Functionalism:• Matches

talents & abilities to appropriate occupational positions

• Values & beliefs that legitimize social inequality are shared throughout society

• Conflict:• Ensures that

large amounts of talent & ability will not be developed

• Values & beliefs tend to reflect the interests of the more powerful members of society

Part FIVE: Social Mobility

Social Mobility

• Definition: the movement between or within social classes or strata

• An important feature of the open class system

Types of Social Mobility

• Horizontal Mobility: movement within a social class or stratum

• Does not involve any major change in a person’s wealth, power, or prestige

• Most common

Types of Social Mobility

• Vertical Mobility: movement between social classes or strata

• Can be upward or downward

Types of Social Mobility

• Intragenerational Mobility: a change in social position that occurs during a person's lifetime

• Intergenerational Mobility: form of vertical mobility in which status differs between generations in the same family

• A quick lesson on social mobility